THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT will be on St Davids next week when the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in the City during the Welsh leg of its world-wide tour. 

The Baton – which is making its way to Glasgow for the start of the Commonwealth Games this summer will be carried through St Davids by 16 local people on Wednesday, May 28. The 1,000 metre journey through the centre of St Davids begins at 8am at the Bishop’s Palace and ends an hour later at the sports hall adjacent to Ysgol Dewi Sant. Members of the public who wish to witness this unique sporting event are asked to arrive before 7.30am as temporary road closures will be activated from that time. In addition to the Pembrokeshire County Council car parks at Merrivale and Quickwell Hill and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority car park adjacent to Oriel y Parc, additional parking will also be available at St Davids rugby club and opposite Ysgol Dewi Sant. The Baton will actually be carried through the Cathedral at one point shortly after being blessed by the Bishop of St Davids, the Right Reverend Wyn Evans. At Cross Square, the Baton and its bearers will be welcomed b y the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Tom Richards and the Mayor of St Davids, Councillor David Halse. The next stop for the Baton is at Oriel y Parc where it will be received by the Chairman of the National Park Authority, Councillor Mike James. It will also visit the Sir Peter Blake Art Exhibition within the Gallery. To conclude the Pembrokeshire leg of its journey, it is due to arrive at St Davids sports hall at 9am where the Baton and bearers will be met by the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Jamie Adams. At the sports hall there will be an opportunity for members of the public to be photographed with the Baton and at 10am a number of sports events for children and young people will be held. Sports to participate in include athletics, cycling, weightlifting, hockey and squash. There is also a duathlon for children. The Baton will be carried on most of its route by a number of young people, aged between ten to 19, who are all past or present members of the St Davids Family of Schools. Also acting as bearers are two local men – Roy Stephens and Barry Webb both in their 70s – who carried the Baton when the Games was held in Cardiff in 1958. Pembrokeshire County Councillor Elwyn Morse, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure, said he was proud that Pembrokeshire had been included in the relay route. “I well remember the vast crowds and exciting scenes which greeted the Olympic Torch when it came to Pembrokeshire two years ago” he said. “I am sure the people of Pembrokeshire will be equally enthusiastic when it comes to showing our support for our home-grown athletes in the Commonwealth Games by turning out in numbers and cheering on the Baton” For further information about the Commonwealth Games and Queens Baton Relay events in St Davids visit: www.pembrokeshire. gov.uk/glasgow2014.